In Judaism, Christianity, and some other Abrahamic religions, the commandment to "be fruitful and multiply" (referred to as the "creation mandate" in some denominations of Christianity) is the divine injunction which forms part of Genesis 1:28, in which God, after having created the world and all in it, ascribes to humankind the tasks of filling, subduing, and ruling over the earth.[1][2] The cultural mandate includes the sentence "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the Earth."
The text finds an immediate interpretation in the opening chapter of the book of Exodus as the description of the Israelites in Egypt are alluded to as, "fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them."[3]
In Orthodox Judaism, the mandate to "be fruitful and multiply" is interpreted as requiring every couple to have at least a son and a daughter.[4] Other Jewish groups (such as Reform Judaism) and individual Jews have interpreted this mandate differently. For example, Richard Friedman in his Commentary on the Torah (2001) claims that the mandate "be fruitful and multiply and fill the Earth" has "been fulfilled."[5] The mandate is elaborated upon in numerous parts of the Talmud, for example in Kidushin.
In the interpretation of some denominations of Christianity, adherents should actively work to fulfill the mandate.[2] Within Christianity in general, the cultural mandate is most elaborately developed in the West by Neo-Calvinism, which explores the implications for modern, pluralistic society, of this Calvinistic assertion.
Despite "be fruitful and multiply" being the most important mitzvah, contraception is permitted in Judaism in appropriate circumstances such as difficult family situations. In instances like these, rabbis may allow women to start contraceptive methods.[6]
Hebrew Bible
The text of Genesis 1:28 states:
Qur'an
The text of surat al-Baqarah 2:187,[8] in the Qur'an, enjoins the listeners (presumably male) to be intimate with their wives and do "that which God has decreed for them", a statement defined by commentators to refer to having children:
In popular culture
Below is a list of some instances where the injunction has been used in modern media, music, and literature.
In 1999, the Israeli musical comedy Kuni-Leml released a cast album including a song named after the injunction as track fifteen.[9]
In 2005, a documentary by Israeli director Shosh Shlam was produced and named after the injunction.[10]
On January 29, 2007, an episode of the American adult television show Moral Orel was named after the injunction.[11]
On September 26, 2009, a film based on the American horror author Stephen King's story Children of the Corn released, which depicts a scene referencing the injunction.[12]
On October 7, 2011, American gospel singer VaShawn Mitchell released his album "Triumphant" with the song on track eight titled "Be Fruitful," referencing the injunction.[13]
On September 10, 2013, an episode of the American reality television show Doomsday Castle was named after the injunction.[14]
